ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has chalked out a two-phased intervention programme to rebuild the devastated air transport infrastructure in Afghanistan.
The ICAO programme to ensure safety of the civil aviation programmes in Afghanistan was presented at the three-day international conference on “Preparing for Afghanistan’s Reconstruction” being held under the auspices of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme in Islamabad. Around 200 delegates from around the world are attending the conference.
Sources said during the immediate “Quick Impact Intervention Phase” to operationalize the airports, the ICAO’s role will be to procure and deploy communications, navigation, and surveillance equipment, airfield lighting equipment, minimum aeronautical meteorological equipment, rescue and fire fighting equipment, airport security equipment and runway repair equipment and material.
Sources said the deployment of ICAO experts would also be necessary to operate the air traffic services and to operate and maintain aeronautical equipment essential for the safe and secure operation of air transport in Afghanistan.
According to the ICAO plan, the highest priority during the quick impact phase would be to make airports in Kabul, Mazar-i- Sharif and Herat fit for safe operations in addition to certain other selected airports for bringing humanitarian aid into the country.
During the quick impact phase, sources said, the ICAO will also provide assistance in the operation, management and maintenance coordination activities.
Sources said the ICAO representative emphasised the need for channelling all civil aviation related interventions by UN agencies, international organizations and the donor community through ICAO. “The UNDP and the donor community has been urged to accord due consideration to provide funds to ICAO required for the post-conflict reconstruction of the civil aviation infrastructure in Afghanistan.”
The ICAO has valuable experience in situations similar to the one in Afghanistan, officials said.
During the development phase, the ICAO will consolidate on operation, maintenance and management of the civil aviation sector and take steps to gradually transfer the knowledge by investing in the Afghan national human resource development, sources said.